SPOILER ALERT: From a galaxy far, far away, everything you need to Kenobi about the closely guarded secrets of the new $200million Star Wars

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The heroine: Rey, played by Daisy Ridley, 23, is the central character in Star Wars: The Force Awakens

It promises to be the biggest box-office hit ever, with predictions that it will take £400 million in its opening weekend and £1 billion globally within a month of its opening on December 18.

The trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens was watched 112 million times in the first 24 hours of its release – and advance ticket sales are the biggest ever, with opening night cinema seats hanging hands for up to £1,500 a time.

The budget was massive, too – the movie cost a staggering £130 million, or $200 million to make. 

Yet despite a mountain of speculation, little is actually known about the film that is inspiring all this hype.

Director JJ Abrams, a selfprofessed Star Wars fanatic, recently told a friend: ‘I’m amazed nothing has leaked. Nothing has come out yet. I can’t quite believe it.’

Until now, that is. 

Because, with the help of well-placed sources on the Star Wars VII production set, The Mail on Sunday has compiled a definitive guide to the secrets behind the first ‘mega film’ of the millennium.

We reveal the heroes and villains, the new tricks, old favourites and, of course, the dramatic plot twists that pit The Force against The Dark Side once again…

THE HEROINE - Daisy, the new Rey of light 

Not only is the heroine British, insiders say she is the central character in the whole film.

They describe Rey as the ‘glue’ that holds the plot together.

Actress Daisy Ridley, a 23-year-old Londoner, is the great-niece of Arnold Ridley, who played Private Charles Godfrey in the classic British TV series Dad’s Army. 

Now unknown Daisy is set to join the Hollywood A-list.

Insiders describe Rey as an intergalactic scavenger who lives in a space-age junk yard. 

Some believe she is, in fact, the child of Han Solo and Princess Leia, but our moles say not. 

‘While we were filming she was so innocent,’ says one. ‘She’s about to become one of the most famous women on the planet but I’m not sure she comprehends the enormity of it all.’

THE WEAPONS - How the Empire fights back

There is retro inspiration for the latest weaponry, including the Stormtroopers’ E-11 blaster rifle which resembles a British Sterling 9mm from the Fifties.

Han Solo’s DL-44 resembles a modified Mauser C96 pistol from the Great War. 

But when you need to destroy a whole space battleship, The Catapult is the super-weapon of choice for The Empire, now known as the First Order.

See the latest news and spoilers on the new Star Wars 7 movie 

The weapons: There is retro inspiration for the latest weaponry, including the Stormtroopers’ E-11 blaster rifle (above) which resembles a British Sterling 9mm from the Fifties

New upgraded T-70 X-Wing starfighters are the Resistance’s zippy preference for interstellar gunfights, while the First Order favours TIE fighters.

There are Star Destroyers, hover-attack Landspeeders and Snowspeeders, Assault Walkers and droid armies. 

For closer combat there are multiple variations on blaster pistols, flame rifles, energy shields, smoke bombs and missile launchers. 

And the film’s most coveted weapon?

Luke Skywalker’s blue lightsaber.

THE LEGACY - Meet Darth's deadly successor 

He has been at the centre of huge speculation since his image flashed up in the first trailer.

Would we see the return of quintessential baddie Darth Vader?

We can reveal the answer is no: he appears only as a burned-out death mask.

The legacy: Quintessential baddie Darth Vader appears only as a burned-out death mask (above)

He makes way instead for Kylo Ren, whose murder of one of the original Star Wars heroes will go down as among the most shocking in movie history. 

Princess Leia returns trailing C-3PO in her wake – mercifully without her hair buns – and as the mother of one of the new generation. 

The film begins 30 years after Return Of The Jedi and is the first in the final trilogy dealing with the rebuilding of The Republic, and Luke Skywalker’s rise as the leading Jedi knight.

THE PLOT - Can Solo survive hunt for Luke's lightsaber? 

There has been no more closely guarded plot. 

Released only a few pages at a time and printed in special copier-proof ink, almost no one has seen the full script. 

New menace: Baddie Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), centre, with his stormtroopers

But we can now reveal that the Star Wars VII storyline centres on the battle for Luke Skywalker’s lost blue lightsaber.

Pilot Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) recovers the weapon and sends it on a mission with new droid BB-8. 

Stormtrooper Finn (John Boyega) joins scavenger Rey (Daisy Ridley) and BB-8, sheltering on board the Millennium Falcon, where they befriend Han Solo (Harrison Ford).

They end up in the castle of alien pirate Maz Kanata (Lupita Nyong’o) but Sith Lord Uber (Andy Serkis) orders killer Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) to destroy them.

Princess Leia arrives with C-3PO and meets Han after years apart, taking the gang back to the Resistance Base. 

The finale is truly epic, say our moles, and includes the traumatic death of ‘a major, major character’.

You have been warned….

THE VETERANS - Skywalker's back... but not for long

Fans were concerned when Luke Skywalker failed to show up in the trailer. 

Could we really have a Star Wars film without its hero?

Our moles say that Luke, played by Mark Hamill does in fact appear, but only in the final frames. 

Reunited:Star Wars VII sees Chewbacca and Han Solo (Harrison Ford) reunite for the final, emotional time

He also ‘plays a major role’ in Star Wars VIII, currently filming at Pinewood Studios. 

Star Wars VII sees Chewbacca and Han Solo (Harrison Ford) reunite for the final, emotional time.

Grown men started crying on set when the pair were filmed walking back on to the bridge of their spaceship, the Millennium Falcon. 

Chewbacca is played by Peter Mayhew, 71.

His seat on the Millennium Falcon had to be modified to accommodate his ageing limbs: ‘It was turned into an OAP seat,’ says a source.

A short appearance: Our moles say that Luke, played by Mark Hamill and pictured (left) with Princess Leia in the original Star Wars, does in fact appear in the film, but only in the final frames. Right, the Millennium Falcon

‘They lengthened it and made it more user-friendly for a man with bad legs.’

Two younger actors were hired to play ‘Chewy’ for the action scenes.

‘There are actually three Chewbaccas in the new movie,’ says a source.

The Millennium Falcon, inset, has been recreated from old film stills down to the smallest detail. 

A tiny set of gold dice from the original 1977 Star Wars was also tracked down.

THE ROBOTS - BB-8 brings girl power

The big secret? The new R2-D2, called BB-8, is a girl! 

And she plays a pivotal role.

‘There’s never been a strong female robot in any Star Wars film,’ says the source. 

‘JJ was determined to make BB-8 cute and strong – and female. 

Feel the force: BB-8 with a Desert Walker and junk-yard scavenger Rey

'They want to appeal to girls as much boys, who have traditionally been the fan base.

‘She’s going to be one of the breakout hits of the film.’

BB-8 is not a CGI creation but is a live, moving robot that interacted with the cast during filming.

‘I was just amazed,’ said star Mark Hamill. ‘It’s an absolute delight.

WHY DOES C-3PO HAVE A RED ARM? 

C-3PO sports a new red arm, having lost his original in an adventure – a matter that will be explained in his own spin-off comic book published in December.

The robots: C-3PO, pictured left with R2-D2, sports a new red arm, having lost his original in an adventure. Right, BB-8 is not a CGI creation but is a live, moving robot that interacted with the cast during filming.

THE MERCHANDISE - And for Christmas I'd like...

It is known for spaceships and weaponry, but the Star Wars franchise has already seen massive demand for a new line of toys for pets, including the Kylo Ren and the Captain Phasma rope for dogs to chew on. 

Christmas stockings will also contain the Furbacca – a cross between Chewbacca and a Furby that hums the Star Wars theme – a build-your-own lightsaber, and Millennium Falcon models.

There are action figures of every character in the film, replica starfighters, Star Wars video games, books, comics, posters, hats, T-shirts, jackets, pyjamas, bedding, backpacks, shoes, masks, electronic voice-changers, water-blasters, dart guns, crossbows, sweets, lamps, mugs, costumes, Christmas ornaments, phone cases, flash drives, wristbands, bags, and a Luke Frywalker Mr Potato Head and Frylo Ren Mr Potato Head.

The merchandise: Christmas stockings will contain replica starfighters (above) among other Star Wars gifts

PS: So, what exactly has Gollum got to do with it? 

If Star Wars VII does break box-office records as expected, British actor Andy Serkis will have starred in three of the top five movie franchises in history: Star Wars: The Force Awakens (as Supreme Leader Snoke); The Lord Of The Rings (as Gollum); and Marvel superheroes series The Avengers (as Ulysses Klaw).

If Star Wars VII does break box-office records as expected, British actor Andy Serkis will have starred in three of the top five movie franchises in history, including The Lord Of The Rings as Gollum (above)